Why Should I Hire a Renovation Consultant for DIY Projects?

Having a pro by your side can make the whole process run smoothly.

beautiful kitchen in new luxury home with large island, pendant lights, and hardwood floors. Shows dining area and living room
hikesterson/Getty Images
beautiful kitchen in new luxury home with large island, pendant lights, and hardwood floors. Shows dining area and living room
hikesterson/Getty Images
Kristin Salaky
Written by Kristin Salaky
Senior Editor, Angi
Updated January 2, 2022
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We’ve all been there: You’re watching your favorite home improvement show or scrolling through social media, and see an ambitious home project that you want to tackle yourself. Then, life gets in the way or it becomes way more complicated than it seemed at first, and you feel a little lost. 

In these situations, it’s helpful to get some insight from the pros. It may seem a little counterintuitive to hire a pro to help with your DIY project, but hiring a local remodeling consultant or another consultant is more common than you think. It still allows you the freedom to make any project your own, but with the safety and guidance of someone who does it for a living. 

Pro Tip
Do your research before diving into a remodling project. Reach out to as many different types of people as you can, from contractors to remodeling companies, to be as informed as possible on all the modern remodeling options available to you.
Traci Snyder
Traci Snyder
Vice President of Marketing, People and Technology, Improveit Home Remodeling

Renovation Consultants Can Help You Plan Your Vision

If you’re anything like us, you want to work smarter not harder, so involving a contractor at the start of any project can set you up for success. Whether you’re planning on laying down a new deck or remodeling a kitchen, contacting a seasoned pro before you start a project can save you time and money in the long run.

A contractor can help you take your vision from your phone screen to your home in no time. For example, if you want to lay down hardwood floors yourself, a local hardwood floor pro may act as a home improvement consultant. They can look at your space and the type of flooring you’re interested in and help to calculate how much you’ll need and even what brand or style to ask for at the supplier. They can also make sure you have the tools you need to complete the project and give you an idea of how long it will take and what skill level it will require.

DIY Consultations Can Be Customized To Your Needs

The whole point of a DIY project is so that you can look at your new gorgeous recessed lighting or bathroom vanity and have the satisfaction that you did it yourself, right? ven if you hire a contractor to help, you can absolutely still get the credit for completing the project with your own hands. 

Hiring a contractor to help with your DIY project can look different depending on what you hope to accomplish and your skill level. Maybe you’re looking for someone to bounce ideas off of or you just need some help getting started. Talking to a consultant can help them tailor their services to your needs. This is also a great option to consider if there’s a part of your project that involves more technical skills and tools than the other aspects. A pro can jump in and help as much or as little as you need so that you can move on and complete the project with ease.

Some Extra DIY Help Can Still Fit Into Your Budget

Even if the idea of a home renovation consultant sounds great to you, your budget may still be a concern. After all, another reason why you’re probably looking to DIY your project is to save money. However, especially with larger projects, having that help upfront or with some more complicated tasks can actually help save you money. 

Once you get into tasks having to do with your home’s foundation, floors, plumbing, and major hardware, making sure it’s done right is imperative. Plus, tackling these projects safely is invaluable.  

Because DIY consulting services can really vary in scope, so can the cost of such help. You can expect to pay everything from $75-$150 per hour of consulting work, according to Angi pros. But these prices can vary widely, especially if you’re tacking on a consultation to another project (which may lower the price) or you’re actually having them physically work on the project for a time (which can make it higher). 

Your best bet is to contact local remodeling pros to see if they offer consulting work and involving them as early as possible to get an idea of cost. Before you know it, you’ll be basking in the glow of a job well done.

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Kristin Salaky
Written by Kristin Salaky
Senior Editor, Angi
Kristin Salaky is a senior editor and home expert at Angi who joined the company in 2021. She’s a writer and editor obsessed with all the things that make your home feel like home.
Kristin Salaky is a senior editor and home expert at Angi who joined the company in 2021. She’s a writer and editor obsessed with all the things that make your home feel like home.
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